Speeding across the UK

ALMOST 95 per cent of motorists speed in the UK, according to a new survey.

The research by respected British motoring magazine Autocar has been conducted in response to the UK government's admission that it is considering raising the UK motorway speed limit from 70 miles per hour (113km/h) to 80mph (129km/h).

Autocar's online survey revealed that 37 per cent of respondents admitted to always speeding on the motorway, with 72.5 per cent saying they have exceeded the speed limit by more than 20mph (32km/h).

The magazine, whose audience is traditionally enthusiast focused, says the vast majority of respondents - 41.5 per cent - believed a higher speed limit should be a key motoring initiative introduced by the government, preferred to other proposals such as fewer speed cameras (16.4 per cent of vote), more police on roads (16.1 per cent) and less road works (13.8 per cent).

More than 80 per cent of the survey's participants said raising the national speed limit would have little or no affect on the government's environmental credentials.

When asked if there should be a corresponding increase in penalties for speeding, 59 per cent said no and 34.7 per cent said yes.

Unofficially, UK police adopt a more flexible approach to speeding than their Australian counterparts.